The Performative State: Public Scrutiny and Environmental Governance in China

The state uses language, symbols, and gestures to shape public perceptions and defuse crises, but when public expectations exceed its governing capacity, performative governance can become exhausting and ineffective. Iza Ding's research on China's environmental bureaucracy shows how they assuage public outrage by appearing responsive, benevolent, and humble, but this work is hard and can lead to exhaustion without delivering material improvements. Performative governance can fail or become less performative and more substantive in different contexts, and comparisons with Vietnam and the United States show that all states engage in this practice.

Format: Hardback
Length: 258 pages
Publication date: 05 August 2022
Publisher: Cornell University Press

The Performative State: How the State Shapes Public Perceptions and Defuses Crises through Performative Governance
Iza Ding's book, The Performative State: How the State Shapes Public Perceptions and Defuses Crises through Performative Governance, explores the role of the state in shaping public perceptions and defusing crises through the theatrical deployment of language, symbols, and gestures of good governance. Ding's research focuses on China's environmental bureaucracy, where she examines how environmental bureaucrats deal with intense public scrutiny over pollution when they lack the authority to actually improve the physical environment. Through ethnographic participation, in-depth interviews, and public opinion surveys, Ding demonstrates how China's environmental bureaucrats assuage public outrage by appearing responsive, benevolent, and humble. However, performative governance is hard work, and environmental bureaucrats paradoxically work themselves to exhaustion even when they cannot effectively implement environmental policies. Instead of achieving performance legitimacy by delivering material improvements, the state can shape public opinion through the theatrical performance of goodwill and sincere effort.

The Performative State also explains when performative governance fails at impressing its audience and when governance becomes less performative and more substantive. Ding focuses on Chinese evidence, but her theory travels: comparisons with Vietnam and the United States show that all states, democratic and authoritarian alike, engage in performative governance.

One of the key findings of The Performative State is that the state can shape public perceptions and defuse crises by creating a sense of legitimacy and trust. This is achieved through the use of language, symbols, and gestures that convey a sense of competence, responsiveness, and benevolence. For example, when the state announces a new environmental policy, it may use language that emphasizes the importance of protecting the environment and the benefits that will accrue to the public. This language can help to build public support for the policy and reduce opposition.

However, the state's ability to shape public perceptions and defuse crises is not without its limitations. One of the biggest challenges is the gap between public expectations and the state's governing capacity. When public expectations exceed the state's governing capacity, the state may be forced to engage in performative governance to maintain its legitimacy. This can lead to a situation where the state is unable to deliver on its promises and is perceived as being ineffective or corrupt.

Ding's research shows that performative governance can be effective in certain situations, but it can also be harmful in others. For example, when the state engages in performative governance to defuse a crisis, it may be able to calm the public and prevent further damage, but it may also create a sense of complacency and undermine the long-term effectiveness of the policy.

To address the gap between public expectations and the state's governing capacity, Ding suggests that the state should focus on building its capacity to deliver on its promises. This can be achieved through a variety of means, such as increasing funding for environmental programs, improving the quality of environmental regulations, and increasing the transparency of the state's decision-making process.

In addition to building its capacity to deliver on its promises, the state should also be transparent about its limitations. This can help to build trust with the public and reduce the likelihood of public outrage. For example, when the state announces a new environmental policy, it should be clear about the challenges that it faces and the steps that it is taking to address them.

Another important aspect of performative governance is the role of the media. The media can play a critical role in shaping public perceptions and defusing crises. When the media reports on environmental issues, it can help to build public awareness and support for environmental policies. However, the media can also be a source of misinformation and propaganda.

To address the role of the media in performative governance, Ding suggests that the state should work to establish a more transparent and accountable media system. This can be achieved through a variety of means, such as increasing funding for public broadcasting, improving the quality of journalism, and increasing the transparency of the media's ownership structure.

In conclusion, The Performative State: How the State Shapes Public Perceptions and Defuses Crises through Performative Governance is a valuable book that explores the role of the state in shaping public perceptions and defusing crises through the theatrical deployment of language, symbols, and gestures of good governance. Ding's research shows that performative governance can be effective in certain situations, but it can also be harmful in others. To address the gap between public expectations and the state's governing capacity, the state should focus on building its capacity to deliver on its promises, being transparent about its limitations, and working to establish a more transparent and accountable media system. By doing so, the state can help to build trust with the public and reduce the likelihood of public outrage.

Weight: 28g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501760372